Goodman wins tender to develop a 500.000 sqm industrial and logistics centre at port of Gdansk

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Dec 17, 2010, 08:00 ET

WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Goodman Group (Goodman) has been awarded the tender for the exclusive investment in, and development of, the 500.000 sqm Pomeranian Logistics Centre adjacent to the newly built Deepwater Container Terminal (DCT) at Gdansk, Poland. The development will be in partnership with InvestGDA, and will be the largest logistics project undertaken in Northern Poland. Upon completion, the value of the project has the potential to exceed 300 million euro.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101217/HK17839 )

The Chairman of the Polish Foreign Investment Agency PAIiIZ, Slawomir Majman, the Mayor of Gdansk, Pawel Adamowicz, and the President of the Gdansk Economic Development Agency, Alan Aleksandrowicz, made the announcement at a press conference in Warsaw, today. The participants also included representatives of Goodman - a leading global property group with extensive local knowledge and a well regarded Polish team.

Goodman's Group Chief Executive Officer, Greg Goodman said: "We are very happy to have been awarded the tender for this milestone project and look forward to working closely with the City of Gdansk and all project partners. Goodman will use its worldwide expertise in logistics development, master planning and property management to develop a premier logistics centre that will cater for, and support, the future growth of the Deepwater Container Terminal at Gdansk."

Speaking today, Blazej Ciesielczak, Country Manager Goodman Poland said: "We will commence development at the Pomeranian Logistics Centre on a pre-committed basis and have the ability to deliver completed facilities within a ten month period. We are excited by the opportunities this prime location offers, given the current undersupply of prime logistics and industrial facilities in northern Poland.

"Goodman will target a diverse portfolio of local, national and international companies, active across a number of sectors including, maritime transport, logistics, distribution, food and fast moving consumer goods. We have the flexibility to develop tailor-made facilities such as warehouses, distribution centres, manufacturing facilities and office space that reflect our customers' individual requirements."

Goodman can provide a range of solutions at the Pomeranian Logistics Centre including buildings for lease or sale. The logistics park and all property developed by Goodman will be managed by Goodman's in-house Property Services team.

Danny Peeters, Goodman's Chief Executive Officer, Continental Europe, added: "Goodman's financial strength and access to capital sources has facilitated the growth of its development activity across Europe, including Poland. A number of significant projects have been announced in recent months and we have signed contracts for new developments in France, Germany, Poland and Slovakia totalling over 180.000 sqm. These new pre committed developments further demonstrate our expertise and ability to deliver tailor made solutions for our clients in strategic locations across Europe. Today's announcement confirms confidence in Goodman, as well as our commitment to the ongoing expansion of our operations in Poland."

Customers have expressed a preference for locations where there is good infrastructure and where they can consolidate or relocate their businesses into larger or more modern facilities. Several infrastructure improvement projects have started are or planned in the Gdansk area. The Pomeranian Logistics Centre is just 20 kilometres from Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport, Poland's second largest airport and offers connections with domestic and European destinations.

Four international railway lines connect Gdansk with the main cities and industrial centres in Poland and four new road transport corridors, including a north-south route going through Gdansk, are planned and under construction. The site is adjacent to the DCT, Poland's biggest port with a market share of 40% of all trade into Poland, and is within a 30 kilometre radius of Poland's other seaports in Gdansk and Gdynia.

The logistics centre is also connected to the A1 highway that links the site and Gdansk through Lodz to Silesia and the Czech Republic. While the S6 express road connects Gdansk to Szczecin and onwards to Germany.

Goodman in Poland

Goodman owns and manages over 100.000 sqm of facilities in various locations in Poland, for customers such as Whirlpool and DHL. Goodman recently announced the construction of a 10.800 sqm warehouse expansion for Nissin in Torun, as part of a 58.000 sqm logistics centre.

The first phase of the 150.000 sqm Krakow Airport Logistics Centre is under construction, and Goodman is currently building a 14.500 sqm warehouse.

Goodman owns over 30 ha of land banks in Poland available for future development and is also working on pre-secured sites of more than 50 ha.

About InvestGDA

Gdansk Economic Development Agency Ltd. (InvestGDA), company founded by the City of Gdansk, is an expert service company promoting foreign direct investment in Gdansk Metropolitan Area. This means assisting companies to locate operations in Gdansk M.A. and also helping companies that have already established their business here. Thanks to 5 years of experience in providing investment services (before we were supporting business as a Business Service Centre in City Hall of Gdansk); we offer an effective link between your company and local business sectors.

About Goodman

Goodman is an integrated property group that owns, develops and manages logistics and business space across Europe, the United Kingdom and the Asia-Pacific region. The Group invests in business parks, office parks, industrial estates and warehouse and distribution centres.

Goodman also offers a range of listed and unlisted property funds, giving investors access to a range of specialist services and property assets, and is working continually to build value in industrial property and fund management, with innovative new developments, and business and investment offerings.

With total assets under management of 11.4 billion euro and over 325 properties under management, Goodman is the largest industrial listed property group on the Australian Stock Exchange, and one of the largest listed specialist fund managers globally. Its market insight and dedicated local teams create sound investment opportunities and develop properties and environments that meet each client's individual requirements.

With more than 750 staff and 32 offices in 16 countries, Goodman has the global reach to meet customers' needs as their businesses expand or evolve. In Europe, Goodman has offices in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and the UK.